Impossible Princess

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Dress: Anthea Crawford mesh, embroidery, sequins, satin

Cardigan: Taking Shape mesh

Jacket: Just Jeans leather

Booties: Wittner matte leather

Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier nylon

Bag: Gift, Kathy Baburin upcycled denim, rose gold, beads

Bangles: Gift, gold, silver, beads

Bangle: Empire Antiques vintage silver, beads

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As a fashion blogger & personal stylist, I have tried many, many different fashion personalities on for size over the years & dipped my toes into a plethora of trends but if I'm completely honest, one that has never quite stuck is sparkles, sequins or bling. It just doesn't feel authentically "me," especially in the daytime, although when I see other people rocking it wholeheartedly, I think they look absolutely divine. Anyway, I have been trying to push my style a little further lately (you may have seen my foray into denim shorts on my Instagram account) & when I was looking for something to wear to a concert recently, I found this sequinned & embroidered mesh Anthea Crawford stunner hiding at the back of my closet & decided to go for it. Personally, I think it worked for the dance music brief, especially when I made it more "me" with additions like a black mesh duster cardigan from Taking Shape, a black cropped Victorian-inspired leather jacket from Just Jeans to ward off the chill in the air, a pair of black matte leather heeled booties from Wittner for height, 40 denier nylon Razzamatazz tights to keep my legs toasty & a funky upcyled denim & beaded bag with rose gold clasp from a maker called Kathy Baburin, gifted by someone special. Finally, I decided to up the ante & add some sparkly gold & silver beaded bangles that a friend brought back from India & a chunky, vintage silver beaded bangle that I picked up from Empire Antiques to complete the look & by the time I looked in the mirror, I was definitely digging it. Not sure if I'd say completely converted yet, but perhaps getting there... you know, on special occasions...

 

Gala After Party: Redux

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford mesh, sequins, satin

Heels: Wittner suede, patent leather, laces

Bag: French Connection suede, vinyl, silver hardware

Belt: Review grosgrain ribbon, beads

Charm Bangle: Pandora silver, onyx

Ring: Pandora silver, onyx

Hat: Gift, vintage wool, suede

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Following on from my last post - a trip down memory lane to a gala in 2017 - are more pictures from that time; these delightful snapshots chronicling the outfit that I wore to attend the gala after party on the same night! I'm swanning about in a stunning black mesh & silver floral sequinned fit-to-flare midi dress with black satin lining from Anthea Crawford, cinched in with a black grosgrain ribbon & beaded belt from retro-inspired Australian label Review, a pair of black suede & patent leather pointy-toed lace-up stiletto heels from Wittner (wonderful to look at but an absolute nightmare to walk in, if I'm being honest), a boxy black suede & vinyl handbag with oversized silver handles from French Connection to carry all the essentials, a matching silver & onyx charm bangle & ring from Pandora & finally, a vintage wool hat with suede "tail" that was gifted to me by some dear friends for this very occasion & really was the icing on the cake!

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A Little Bit Disco

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Pinafore: Veronika Maine sequins

Button-Down Shirt: Target cotton

Ankle Boots: Wittner patent leather

Bag: French Connection suede with silver hardware

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The best way to make "sparkle" daytime appropriate is to pair it with something that has a casual or businesslike edge. Case in point: this amazing black sequinned drop-waist pinafore from Aussie label Veronika Maine that I've mixed with a blue & white striped cotton button-down shirt dotted with little black stars that I picked up from my local Target store for a bargain price. To complete the look, I added a pair of shiny black patent ankle boots from Wittner to elongate my frame & a boxy black suede handbag with oversized silver handles from French Connection to carry all the essentials.

Count Basie

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Dress: Anthea Crawford mesh, sequins, satin

Jacket: Portmans leather

Ankle Boots: Wittner patent leather

Bag: French Connection suede with silver hardware

Ring: Georgini silver & onyx

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Reveling in the last vestiges of winter sunshine on the boardwalk, on my way to enjoy a sublime performance by the legendary Count Basie Orchestra with someone special. An 18 piece "big band" founded by William James "Count" Basie in 1935 & one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, the orchestra still performs & records regularly as a "ghost band" following Basie's death in 1984. Avid readers of this blog will already know of my deep affection for so-called "big band" music like that of Glenn Miller & to say that this experience was transcendent would be an understatement - I am honestly still in awe of the talent & artistry of the performers & the sound they are able to create together.

To evoke the era & bring a bit of that old "razzle dazzle," I donned a gorgeous fit-to-flare dress from Anthea Crawford made from black mesh (with a satin lining) & covered in grey floral embroidery & silver sequin embellishment with a sweet black grosgrain ribbon belt, replete with leather bow detail; cropped black leather jacket from Portmans that "nipped in" at the smallest part of my waist; shiny black patent ankle boots from Wittner for that bit of edge & a boxy suede handbag with oversized silver handles from French Connection to carry all of my essentials. Such a shiny/sparkly/suede outfit needs no further embellishment, so jewellery was kept simple - a single silver & onyx cocktail ring from Georgini was enough to complete the look.

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Keep scrolling to see the ensemble without the jacket...